Atlantic Canada Geography

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Provinces in Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and PEI

smallest population and weakest economy in Southern Canada

Maritimes

Atlantic Can minus Newfoundland and Labrador

ie. NS, NB, PEI

Major Difficulties in Atlantic Canada

an old and used resource hinterland

migration of young generation away from the area

loss of culture and skills

have-not region dependent on equalization payments

Weather in Atlantic Canada

effected by the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream current

mild most of the year but severe winter storms, icebergs in June, lots of snow

Labrador Current

flows south from the North Atlantic which carries iceberg down to Newfoundland

mixes with warm waters of the Gulf stream to create fog and mist

Gulf Stream

north-east current from the Gulf of Mexico

mixes with cold water of Labrador Current to create fog and mist and severe winter storms

Basic Statistics Atlantic Canada

slow growing economy

all provinces received equalization payments until the discovery of oil off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2009

high rate of unemployment

low GDP for population

French-Speaking Acadians settled here

Employment by Economic Sectors in Atlantic Canada

decreases in primary and secondary sectors and increase in tertiary common to other provinces

total number of workers has stayed constant -> stagnant economy

out-migration and air-commuting to AB for jobs

Economic Head Start in Atlantic Canada

British Empire exploited cod and lumber

NS and NB were the shipbuilding centre of the Brit Empire in 1840

trade with Caribbean and Britain (imports, and high demand for exports)

traded with America after industrialization post Civil War

Slow Growth in Atlantic Canada

historical decline, out migration, and absence of economic growth

decline of fisheries

lowest GDP and highest unemployment in Canada

Fall of Exports from Maritimes

Britain opened up free trade in 1849, and Maritimes lost guaranteed markets

iron replaces wood in shipbuilding

end of Reciprocity Treaty in 1866, meant no more exports to USA

Decline of Atlantic Fisheries

overfishing of cod in 1980s led to government restrictions on cod fishing and tighter control of all fishing licences

Newfoundland and Labrador mainly focus on lobster and shellfish, , but very few licences are permitted

returns per fisher are high

the fishing industry is concentrated in smaller and smaller circles of people

devastating to NL where it has ended a way of life

Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans was supposed to be responsible for managing cod

Hibernia

an oil deposit in the Grand Banks (cod fishing area)

specially designed off-shore platform to endure winter storms and icebergs

Reasons for Modern Economic Difficulties in Atlantic Can

political division into four provinces: no economies of scale, multiple government expenses

resources: non-renewable resources are used up, and renewable resources were overexploited

dispersed population with small markets

distance from national and international global markets

Hopeful Economic Future for Atlantic Canada

offshore gas and oil discovery

huge shipbuilding contract from Ottawa

trade agreement in the works with the EU

potential for hydro-power development

Lower Churchill Project

hydro-power project to dam the unused parts of the Churchill River in Labrador

electricity could be sold to Maritimes and New England

may have the ability to unite the Atlantic, since most energy connections now go through QU

Equalization Payments to Atlantic Canada

federal government pays 3 million to the region every year to generate fiscal capacity

approximately 20% of federal payments

the amount has decreased since 2006, but Maritimes are still dependent

Out-Migration from Rural Atlantic

rural towns and villages based in the fishing industry don’t have the workers to support them

employment and econ growth in urban centres

skilled workers exodus to AB, leaving few skilled workers in the region

Population Decline in Atlantic

loss of population predominately in smaller communities

falling birth rate and steady death rate

little in-migration

massive out-migration

The Big Commute

people who live in the Atlantic provinces, but fly to AB for two weeks to work and then fly home for a week

corporations provide airfare, food, and housing

pay $100,000 a year before overtime

influx of money to the province

Hidden Costs of The Big Commute

dependent on an industry on the other side of the country

families, social structure, individual lives and values

Urban Geography in Atlantic

two largest cities are Halifax (13th in Can) and St. John’s (20th)

least urbanized region (just over 50%)

Halifax

dominant metropolitan centre for Maritimes

deep, ice-free harbour; major container port

naval base

relatively large population/market

St. John’s, NL

dominant metropolitan centre for NL

offshore oil, fishing industry, government services

Arctic marine research and resupply

Saint John, NB

energy hub for New England, receiving foreign natural gas from Caribbean and Middle East en route to US

gateway to NS and PEI

francophone population is gateway to Acadian area of NB

Halifax Citadel

National Historic Site created by the Brits to defend the port

LNG

liquified natural gas

Methylmercury and Hydropower

flooding forested areas for hydropower increases the level of methylmercury in the water and therefore in fish

it is apparently not dangerous, except to children and women of child-bearing age (so, no big deal, right)

especially a concern for proposed Lower Churchill project

Forestry Industry in Atlantic

slowly hemmoraging

hit by housing crisis in US, high dollar increasing cost for US buyers, print newspaper decline, and rising electricity costs

mirrored in other pulp and lumber mills across Canada

AV Nackawic Mill

produces rayon fabric from wood fibre from Asia

went under in 2004

bailed out multiple times by government-funded corporations, and government loans

still operating in 2012, but planning on reducing labour force

Confederation Bridge

connects PEI to NB

increased tourism, real estate boom

accessibility to markets for seafood products

increased potato growing and potato products

PEI Potato Production

about 1/3 of Canadian production

fills markets for seeds, table potatoes, and processing potatoes

Annapolis Valley

fertile soil from marine deposits

at sea level surrounded by rocky upland

settled by Acadians

best agricultural land in NS

vineyards are replacing apple orchards

The Tragedy of the Commons

open access property

many people have access to an open resource, but no one is responsible for overseeing and managing the resource

self-interests outweighs community welfare (under capitalism)

often leads to overuse and degradation

Exclusive Economic Zone

a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.